The title's definitely misleading, and I'm sure the idea of associating words with images as a mnemonic isn't new. I read about it twenty years ago in a book (I've forgotten the name of the book) by this guy:

As with the weight loss industry, the growing number of 'Learn a Language in Just X Days' schemes attests not to their success but to the growth in demand. According to one such ad, we're all supposed to 'hate' Paul Pimmsleur for putting us out of work.

I am fed up to the back teeth with beginners coming in and telling me that they want to be fluent in 7 weeks or their money back. I just won't take their money in the first place.

coledavis: You may be turning down easy money!!! One thing I've learned is that students may have entirely different ideas of what fluency means. Of the two adults I started with a year ago who both claimed they wanted to be able to converse in English, one wanted to actually learn the language, the other just wanted phrasebook expressions--nothing more.

If that's not the case, you may still be turning down easy money--even if they never study with you!!! Once the two of you know what level they're at and where they want to be**, just map out their part and your part of the workload. How much more work they'll be doing on their own will depend on what level they start at and how much of your time they're willing to pay for. The important thing is to make sure at this point you sketch out for them a comprehensive self-study program, that in your sessions together, you'll be providing vital practice with, and feedback on. If they balk at this, don't turn them away just yet! Politely give them a choice. Tell them you can get them a discount for a 'Learn English in Just XX Days!' self-study course -OR- recommend they personally visit all the best private language schools in the area (you arrange for yourself a kickback in both cases), tuition fees, and guarantees. They'll come back to you, guaranteed!

If not, they weren't serious about English in the first place and if that's the case, they won't even waste your time sitting the level check once you tell them how long it'll take. But still tell them anyway that the more precise data you have on where they're at in their English, the better position you'll be to ensure they don't waste their limited time. Who knows, they may eventually send you someone who really is as serious as you'll appear to them to be.

** Very important---be prepared to test them thoroughly and also provide stats as to the average time it takes learners at their level to achieve their targeted level. (ANYONE HAVE A SOURCE FOR SUCH STATS?) Never, never ridicule them on their unrealistic goal!! Treat them instead as if they're extremely attentive and motivated learners willing to study 24/7 if need be or idiot savants.

You may prefer to look like Mr Bean, but I'm quite sure that if given a choice, most women and quite a few men would prefer that you look like Brad Pitt. Could be wrong. Mr Bean is sorta like the Three Stooges. Never liked looking at them either.

Benny the Irish Polyglot? The guy who got a bit of a savaging over on Chinese-forums.com for his audacious plans (especially when he then started making excuses, IIRC to do with "cultural" rather than the linguistic factors, for failing to reach a level similar to those he'd achieved for "easier", more linguistically-related languages)? The videos he posted of him finally "conversing" with native or more fluent speakers were a bit embarrassing and not that inspiring (IMHO).